Dual Hard Drive Configuration Questions

[jared17]

Hey everyone,

I'm new to the forum, I just registered today. I'm having some troubles trying to setup my system so that I can have one hard drive strictly for the OS or other extremely important files, and another hard drive for just normal everyday use and storage. I was just wondering what I should do to set this all up.

For a little background, I have Windows XP SP2 that I'll be running for the OS, I'm not sure what other info you guys might need just incase but I'll clarify more if its needed

Thanks in advance,

Jared

 

[Trizoy]

Have you already purchased the HD? Do you know if you have SATA or IDE HD? Do you know how much room you need on each drive? If not what kind of files will you be saving on there?

 

[vortmax]

I run this setup. It's not hard at all. You just install both drives, making the one you want windows to work on the master. When you plug it into the IDE cable, make sure the Windows drive is on the lead connector (not the one in the middle) and the secondary drive is on the other connector.

If windows is already installed on one drive, it's as simple as plugging in the other drive and running the disc setup software that came with the drive. If it's a fresh install then when you're in the stage where you select which partition to install windows to, just make sure you format both drives in the File system of choice and install windows to the primary drive. Once you load windows, both drives will be visible.

I just right click on "My Documents" and go to properties. There is an option to redefine the path to your document folder. I just changed that path to D:\ , which is my documents drive. Now windows saves all files by default to that drive.

I would strongly advise you to keep very important files on the other drive that your OS in NOT on. More then likley problems will arise from your OS becoming infected or corrupt making you reformat that drive. You want to keep sensitive and important documents as isolated from the OS as possible.